Broward Unveils Park Plans

Upgrades Targeted For Safari Isle In Sunrise

Broward County residents have been swimming in new pools and playing in expanded parks as a result of a $400 million bond issue they approved in November 2000.

But there's plenty more to come, Parks and Recreation Division Director Bob Harbin said. In 2005, plans will reach a peak, he said.

"It will probably be our biggest construction year," Harbin said. "We anticipate closing this thing out in the next 18 months -- possibly no longer than two years."

Almost 75 percent of Broward voters supported the $400 million Safe Parks and Land Preservation Bond, which set aside $200 million for buying conservation land, green space and open space, and another $200 million for expanding amenities and refurbishing existing parks.

The second $200 million has taken time. The county needed until the middle of 2001 to hire 32 employees to coordinate bond expenditures and to determine what projects would be initiated. Improvements from the bond money began appearing during 2002, most of them attributable to the $20 million assigned to municipalities for 54 projects and $19 million for 23 new or improved pools under the auspices of Swim Central, Broward's learn-to-swim initiative. County commissioners wanted the pools in order to provide children with a place to learn to swim.

The county's list of projects at its own parks has surpassed 100. That figure involves projects that either have been completed, are in construction or on the drawing board for Broward's system of 73 regional parks, neighborhood parks and natural areas.

"I'd say we're progressing very steadily," Harbin said.

Broward residents, Harbin said, are feeling the effects of the 2000 bond much faster than they did with the previous county parks bond, worth $75 million and approved in 1989. The 1989 money was geared more toward acquisition of and enhancement of environmentally sensitive lands, such as Miramar Pineland.

This time around, the county assigned a specific staff to carry out bond programs, Harbin said.

"That's a lot of money to spend, and the time seems like it flew by," he said.

Among the recreation segments to watch in 2005:

Camping: The county is currently upgrading electric and sewer lines at Easterlin Park, 1000 NW 38th St. in Oakland Park. Similar work is in various stages at Markham Park, C.B. Smith Park and T-Y Park, all of which haven't been upgraded in at least 20 years.

The electrical amperage is being improved in some parks, which will allow more and larger recreational vehicle appliances to be used simultaneously.

"We're trying to bring it up to the year 2000," Harbin said.

Natural areas: In north Broward County, Hillsboro Pineland, at State Road 7 and Northwest 74th Place in Coconut Creek, Crystal Lake Sand Pine Scrub, 3299 NE Third Ave. in Pompano Beach, Tall Cypress, 3700 Turtle Run Blvd. in Coral Springs and Woodmont Natural Area, 7250 NW 80th Ave. in Tamarac, all have opened to the public in the past five years.

And the Long Key Natural Area, 3501 SW 130th Ave. in Davie, is projected to open in late 2006. The Kapok Tree restaurant, popular during the 1970s and 1980s, used to be on the 152-acre site, but the main building and the Kapok Tree's ornamental trimmings on the grounds outside have been removed.

"It will be a nature center on the same quality as, say, Anne Kolb [Nature Center]," Harbin said, referring to the attraction at West Lake Park in Hollywood.

Aquatics centers: The Safari Isle attraction at Markham Park, 16001 W. State Road 84 in Sunrise, will be improved, Harbin said. Safari Isle is currently a regular swimming pool.

Details will be worked out in the next 18 months, Harbin said.

"It doesn't get near the usage that our water playgrounds do, so we're going to add something to it to make it more attractive for people to use," Harbin said.

The county's revenue figures support Harbin's call for an upgrade. Paradise Cove, a water-play area in C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines that opened April 9 after workers gutted parts of the old Flume Lagoon, took in more than $1 million last year, and Castaway Island at Topeekeegee-Yugnee Park in Hollywood garnered $439,661. Safari Isle took in only $39,801.

Eventually, there will be five water attractions in Broward, Harbin said. A new regional park opening in western Miramar in early 2005 and another in Lauderhill (slated for late 2006) will join Safari Isle, Paradise Cove and Castaway Island.

General improvements: A 35-acre area of Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek will be developed into a picnic area. The county bought the tract, north of Sample Road, in 1996.

C.B. Smith and Markham Park will have fences, bathrooms and meeting rooms improved "just because they're old," and T-Y Park will have a "major" renovation," Harbin said.

At Vista View Park in Davie, work will begin on a new playground for children with special needs. The county opened Vista View Park in July 2003.

Nick Sortal can be reached at nsortal@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7906.